MTLNOVEL Chapter 150
150. The Decisive Battle Is In Three Days
“The decisive battle is in three days… huh.”
The massive radar at the guild headquarters predicted multiple Sirega appearances approximately 72 hours from now.
Three days from today.
The atmosphere within the guild was heavy.
Adventurers spoke little, and many wore dark expressions.
──In the previous battle, the guild suffered significant losses.
In my team, everyone except Alice, Sarome, and Rudolf had been obliterated by the Phoenix’s heat ray, leaving not even ash behind.
It seemed that almost no other team had returned completely unscathed, either.
The fiends that appeared this time seemed to be much stronger than usual.
Indeed, the D-Eaters, Hell’s Arms, and Mystics all felt stronger compared to when we fought them before.
Had more powerful species emerged, or was it due to some other factor?
In any case, we would face them again in three days.
This time, there might be even more casualties.
That ominous thought seemed to hang in the air, spreading the oppressive mood around us.
I sighed as I stepped out of the guild building into the courtyard.
Trying to distract myself, I wandered through the garden. And then──
“Luca…?”
In the shade of a tree stood a girl with blue hair.
“──Haruto.”
Luca, clad in her knight’s armor, turned to face me.
At her feet, her beloved longsword, Force Greed, was thrust into the ground.
“What are you doing here?”
“Talking with my sword.”
“Talking… with your sword?”
“This sword holds the power of the War God Vim Force and the Dragon Emperor Greed. I converse with their powers to better understand the sword’s strength.”
I didn’t quite grasp what Luca was explaining.
“Greed taught me this at the Ancient Dragon Temple. To master this sword, dialogue with him is necessary.”
So, Luca had been training.
“Sorry for interrupting.”
“No, I was just about to take a break.”
“And besides──”
She looked at me, her cheeks faintly reddening.
“I’m glad to talk with you, Haruto. We haven’t been able to spend much time together lately…”
“True, we haven’t seen each other in a while. Both of us had quests.”
“I missed you…”
Luca murmured in a voice so soft it might disappear.
“Huh?”
“…Nothing.”
Luca pulled her longsword from the ground, sheathed it, and turned to look at me once more.
“Our opponent is strong, but I’m happy to fight alongside you,” she said, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes glowing softly.
I found myself captivated.
When I first met her, I thought she was like ice.
A swordswoman as sharp and unyielding as a blade.
“Let’s… do our best together,” she whispered shyly.
“Yeah, we’ll survive. All of us.”
I nodded with a smile.
Standing here before me, Luca seemed like just an ordinary girl──
Utterly lovely.
The dark feelings in my heart lifted slightly.
I was staying at accommodations arranged by the guild headquarters.
It was one of the most luxurious inns in the royal capital, practically a small castle.
The food was exquisite, every dish a masterpiece.
It felt more like a lavish vacation than a combat mission.
Incidentally, all expenses were covered by the guild headquarters.
Lilith, Alice, Luca, Sarome, and the others were staying in the same inn.
We all had dinner together, enjoying the local specialties of Rudirowm.
Even Sarome and Lilith were delighted by the extravagant spread.
Before a battle, it’s important to lift your spirits, after all.
After dinner, I strolled through the inn’s garden.
Bathed in pale moonlight, the garden had an enchanting atmosphere.
“The decisive battle is in three days… huh.”
Repeating the same words I’d spoken earlier, I sighed.
Though meeting Luca had lightened my mood a bit, the oppressive feeling returned.
The impending arrival of fiends, stronger than anything we’d faced──
Even with my skill ensuring I wouldn’t get hurt, protecting multiple cities at once was impossible.
Though the top-tier adventurers here were reliable, the task felt overwhelming.
“You’ll burn out if you stay this tense, Haruto.”
It was Lilith, her gentle smile immediately lifting my spirits.
“That’s true. It’s hard not to get worked up before a big fight.”
“The battle with the first wave was brutal.”
Lilith returned my smile, probably trying to ease my worries.
“So many adventurers were lost…”
“Let’s promise to come back safely from the next quest.”
“Lilith, you’re strong. You’ll be fine.”
With the power she inherited from Demon General Meriel.
And her unwavering will to protect others since becoming an adventurer, Lilith’s strength was undeniable.
“And──I’ve honed my skills in every fight until now.”
Seeing her anxious expression, I smiled to comfort her.
I didn’t want her to worry any more.
“After all, my defense is ‘absolutely impenetrable,’ remember? You said so yourself when we first met, calling me a trump card against the Demon King.”
I ended with a teasing tone.
“…Yes, I did.”
Lilith replied, still serious.
Her gaze lingered on me, intense and contemplative.
“Lilith…?”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Promise me.”
“I’ll come back alive.”
It struck me.
I wasn’t the only one afraid.
Lilith was battling her own fears too.
And now, she sought something to overcome them.
“Haruto, promise me you’ll return as well.”
Her teary eyes locked onto mine, her lips slightly parted as if seeking something, releasing a sweet breath.
“Lilith, I will. Let’s meet again, like this──”
I smiled and leaned in slowly.
Lilith closed her eyes in response.
Our lips met softly.